Home Science: Backyard Astronomy Basics

by HomeAdvisor

Are you fascinated by stars, comets, planets, and other celestial bodies you can
glimpse in the night sky? Many aspiring astronomers start out at home, in their
own backyard. It is possible to observe quite a lot about our solar system using
basic telescopes or even the naked eye, but there are also many tools that can
help you identify what you’re seeing and learn more about what’s out there.em is part of
the Milky Way galaxy, a collection of as many as 100 billion other solar
systems. The Milky Way, in turn, is only one of at least 100 billion galaxies
out there! Even the most sophisticated observation technology can see just a
fraction of the celestial bodies that are out there. The Hubble Space Telescope,
one of the most powerful telescopes created to date, can see up to 15 billion
light years into space, but the universe is many times larger than that.
As an amateur astronomer, you won’t be able to see 15 billion light years into
the night sky, but you can observe quite a lot. From your own home, it is
possible to spot stars, planets, and even galaxies. You may even be lucky enough
to spot asteroids or comets flying by. The key is knowing what you’re looking
for.

Getting Started

You can get started right away, but depending on how far you would like to take
your study of the universe beyond Earth, you may end up wanting some tools. Even
without a telescope, you can observe quite a bit when you look up, though.
Before you buy any astronomy equipment, go outside on as many clear nights as
you can and just spend time getting to know the night sky. Where is the moon?
How does it change relative to the position of the other stars you see each
night? To get a better idea of what you could be looking at, you can reference
constellation maps, astronomy guidebooks, or smartphone apps designed for the
budding astronomer.
Once you have gotten a basic idea of what you’re looking at, you will probably
be curious about what else you’ll be able to observe. The next step is to invest
in a basic telescope or binoculars to extend your view farther beyond Earth.
There are three main types of telescopes you can choose from: refracting,
reflecting, or hybrid. Refracting telescopes use curved lenses. Reflecting
telescopes use curved mirrors to minimize the refraction of light and extend the
viewing distance. Hybrid telescopes use both technologies and combines their
strengths. The quality of a telescope depends on the aperture, or diameter of
the lens or mirror, and the optical quality, or how clear the image is. The
greater the aperture, the more light a telescope can bring in and the higher
resolution the image will have. Telescopes for home astronomers can range in
price from around $500 to thousands of dollars.

The Constellations

Constellations are groups of stars that form images or patterns in the night
sky. Many are named for mythological figures that the ancient Greeks and Romans
thought they resembled. Stars in constellations aren’t often actually that close
to each other and don’t have much in common other than the fact that they make
up these pictures that humans imagined. Nevertheless, they are recognizable
patterns that can help you gauge where you should be looking to find different
things. They can also help us determine what season it is, as they are in
different locations in the sky as Earth orbits the sun. While there used to be
many different interpretations of what made up which constellations across
cultures, they are now standardized into 88 official constellations. No one star
belongs to more than one constellation. With the help of a sky atlas, you can
spot many constellations from home even without a telescope.

The Solar System

Earth is the third of eight major planets orbiting the sun. Since we are on the
inside, it is impossible to view the solar system as a whole, but we can observe
quite a bit of it as Earth rotates and orbits around the sun. Five of the
planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, are visible from Earth for
most of the year without a telescope. Their location changes as they and Earth
move. In fact, that is the first step in identifying a planet: The planets will
change location from night to night, while stars don’t change their location
relative to each other in the sky. The window of time when a planet is visible
from Earth is called an apparition. There are also other components of our solar
system, like asteroids, comets, or meteors, that you may be able to spot
occasionally. Meteors are frequently seen soaring across the night sky.

Famous Astronomers

Astronomy is not a new field of study; since the beginning of the human race, we
have been looking up and wondering what else is out there. There have been many
attempts to explain what we see and make sense of it. Several individuals have
made groundbreaking scientific discoveries and observations of space, and those
famous astronomers laid the foundation for more advanced space exploration in
the present day.
Among the most famous astronomers are Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei,
Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, and Edwin Hubble. Copernicus first proposed the
idea that the sun, rather than Earth, is the center of the universe. Galileo
further advanced this theory and studied much about celestial bodies such as our
sun and the moons of Jupiter. Newton helped formulate the theory of gravity,
which serves as a backbone of studying how solar systems, galaxies, and the
universe are held together. Hawking uncovered many mysteries surrounding black
holes. Hubble, after whom the famous Hubble telescope is named, studied many
galaxies beyond ours.

Space Exploration

Humans are continuing to discover more information about the cosmos today.
Observation of the sky beyond Earth takes place with telescopes that are
becoming more advanced, space probes that journey into the sky and visit planets
or other celestial bodies, and manned rocket flights into space. Physical
exploration of space had its beginning in the mid-20th century when Russia
launched a satellite into Earth’s orbit and the United States landed a man on
the moon. Future plans for space exploration include space tourism and manned
missions to places beyond Earth’s orbit.

Games and Activities for Students

If you’re interested in astronomy, you don’t have to wait until it’s dark out to
explore the subject. There are plenty of games and activities that can help you
learn more about what’s out there in the sky, both in and out of the classroom.